Messenger of Common Sense

This blog is just a tiny sampling of the gun deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, on average, 2,500 people will die every month in the United States at the wrong end of a gun. That is about the same number of people who will die in a year due to “distractions,” while driving. In most states, it is now illegal to text while driving.

I am a former gun advocate, but after Columbine, Virginia Tech, Red Lake, the “Santa Claus massacre,” Luby’s Cafeteria, etc, it is embarrassingly clear that handgun ownership in the United States is not morally justifiable. Just do a Google search of “shootings” or “shot dead” and look at all the innocent people dying.

It will take enough mothers to lose enough children before this problem is taken seriously – just like drunk driving.

Some of my guns are worth a lot of money, but none of them are worth even one of the dead children listed on this blog.

Thousands of kids, competing in a safe healthy environment, pursuing a sport they love. ,

Gun ownership and right to carry status is at an all time high in this nation while violent crime is at an all time low. Funny correlation I know. To be really specific violent crime is at a 35 year low and murder is at a 45 year low. That’s according to the FBI preliminary report from 2008. http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=206&issue=007 Read it for yourself, complete with citations and links.

Here is the beauty of this. You are a minority voice in this nation. Poll after poll indicates that American’s overwhelmingly believe in the Right To Carry, the right to own a firearm, and the importance of the second amendment. My kids will be taught this. I will continue to support the NRA proudly as both a recruiter and a member. As a matter of fact I may just donate a few dollars in honor of your blog. Isn’t that great, you inspired someone to do something about an issue they really care about.

We live in a culture permeated by violence and lack of values. This lack of values and intellectual dishonesty is continuously perpetrated by the left side of the political aisle, which I highly suspect you are one of. Those that support the second amendment, view a firearm as a defensive weapon do not grind people up in the streets. Look at where the violent crime exists in this nation, the inner cities. Which in countless city after city is ran by those of your political persuasion. Get a clue.

Guns don’t kill people, I know it’s a silly cliche, but it’s true. Violent crime is a symptom of larger problems in this nation. I know they didn’t teach you to see the big picture in school, I’m just trying to help you out. Why don’t you spend your time on an issue that actually matters. Like figuring out how to reduce the causes of violent crime in this nation; like substance abuse, drugs, education, the need for job creation.

Regards, for common sense pro second amendment conservatism, come back anytime to my blog.

I am more than happy to post your response. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

I’m all for kids pursuing a hobby, and I’m not surprised that they enjoy guns. I sure did. But I don’t see what value that adds to an argument for gun ownership. Hell, we used to give kids lawn darts!

As for a reduction in violent crime, that too is of no value. Violent crime can be anything from a threat to an assault, so even if gun crime doubled, “violent crime,” being such a huge collection of offenses, could still see a decrease.

Is my opinion in a minority? It’s a moot point. There was a time when slavery would win a popular vote.

I know many want to view a gun as a defensive weapon, but unfortunately, that is not how they are being used. It is now common knowledge that the higher gun ownership is per capita, the higher the per capita death by firearm. Justifiable homicides with firearms constitute less than 1% of the total number of firearm deaths. Consequently, it is not moral that 50 to 100 people die from firearms for every life a firearm saves. Besides, while you might be able to defend yourself with a gun, a fifth-grader doesn’t have that option. That’s kind of selfish isn’t it?

“Guns don’t kill people, people do.” That logic can be applied to drugs too. Would you suggest we allow prescription drugs to be freely available to the public? Should citizens be allowed to go to “Jim’s Bait, Guns, and Drugs Store” and purchase Xanax just because they want to? We don’t allow that, but we do allow guns. How ironic.

Handguns are used in over 90% of all gun violence in the United States. They should be banned. In addition, there is no good reason why a private citizen should own an assault rifle or anything else not intended specifically for hunting.

Shotguns and rifles are so seldom used in gun violence that their benefit probably outweighs their cost.